On June 24, the PBR Wisconsin team started its hefty summer showcase circuit with its annual Underclass Trials event, a showcase targeted for prospects representing graduating classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024. We produced our rapid post-event analysis in the days that followed, inside our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis posts, and we’re wrapping up our event analysis this week having written scouting reports on each of the event’s prospects.

Today, we’re beginning our position-by-position analysis with the day’s catchers. A group led by a couple talented, uncommitted 2022s and a 2023 prospect who only got better as the summer went on.

TOP CATCHER PROSPECTS

1. Cade Milton, Notre Dame Academy (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Proportional strength in athletic frame.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, calm approach, hands set low, slightly open. Arm bars back in load as foot strides forward and even. Simple, level approach makes for some consistent line-drive contact. Long path through contact with loose hands, some bat speed.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.13-2.25 pop times. Athletic receiver, does well to get throws off quickly all around the plate. Ranges well on blocks, stifles the ball in front. Natural catcher actions.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60. Athletic gait.

2. Levi Kline, Baraboo (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 174-pounds. Strength in athletic build.
Hit: RH. Pre-pitch rhythm from tall start, pigeon-toed front foot; bat waggle. Crouches and coils into load back, leg hangs in load, triggers to sync up contact. Above-average bat speed off an athletic, uphill plane.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Creates hard-hit lofted contact well; hit three balls over 320 feet in live BP, including a 343-feet ball at 93.3 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. OF - 76 mph. Short, compact arm action from an over-the-top slot from both the outfield and catcher.
Defense: 2.22-2.50 pop times. Flexible receiver with above-average actions; quick exchanges as he fluidly erupts from crouch. Footwork is more deliberate and methodical in the outfield.
Run: 6.99 runner in the 60. Above-average footspeed.

3. Jimmy Athans, Badger (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-6, 150-pounds. Compact frame with muscled-up levers.
Hit: RH. Calm, easy approach; balanced/athletic setup. Crouches onto back foot in load, toe-tap stride. Long path to ball on steep plane, meets ball out front; demonstrates some easy strength through contact.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot; shows accuracy to the bag.
Defense: 2.15-2.27 pop times. Natural actions; soft block. Feel for the position and is vocal behind the plate.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. Hard, athletic runner.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Mason Armstrong, Verona Area (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 210-pounds. Strength in frame, especially lower half.
Hit: RH. Balanced/athletic setup; some pre-pitch rhythm. Smooth load back, bathead tilts forward, leg lift stride to even. Short path to the ball, line-drive contact. Sprayed line drives to all fields, favored left-center gap. Barrel feel while working off a level plane.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Low-lying contact that flashed hard off the barrel.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Similar arm action in the outfield.
Defense: 2.41-2.55 pop times. Steady actions; deliberate catch and throw.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

Reese Berg, Green Bay Preble (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RH. Tall stance, open front foot with pigeon-toe. Weight-shift load back, leg hangs, strides to even. Simple to the ball with some finish. Loose hands help find barrel regularly.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above-average bat strength; hit a ball 346 feet at 90-plus mph, per TrackMan, in live BP.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Similar arm action on the infield.
Defense: 2.28-2.40 pop times. Can defend tall in the crouch; projects best on the corner infield, with some reliable hands.
Run: 8.06 runner in the 60. 

Caleb Bowers, Whitefish Bay (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds.
Hit: RH. Wide base, balanced. Weight-shift load back with leg lift, soft stride to even landing. Short bat path off a level plane.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Short draw, arm action, from a high 3/4 slot; showed some accuracy.
Defense: 2.40-2.58 pop times. Footwork is deliberate and fluid.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Josh Bunyer, Pewaukee (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-6, 132-pounds.
Hit: RH. Rests weight on back foot, slight crouch, hands set low. Knee-knock load, leg kick stride. Bat path is short, simple, on an uphill plane. Does well to meet the ball on plane with consistency.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short, quick arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.27-2.44 pop times. Raw actions; quick feet and transfers help him get the ball out fast.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. Easy gait.

Brady Davidson, St. Joseph Catholic Academy (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds. Some strength in frame; stout lower half.
Hit: LH. Balanced/athletic setup, confident approach. Weight-shift load back, small knee lift/hang, syncs up timing. Long bat path off an uphill plane with some barrel feel.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Makes the most of his lofted contact; topped 335 feet in live BP, per TrackMan, that left the bat at 88.6 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. INF - 78 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 slot; throws more loosely on the infield.
Defense: 2.28-2.41 pop times. Fluid actions, at a deliberate tempo behind the plate. Currently projects best on the infield, more natural infield actions; hands play soft.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Logan Hochevar, Pulaski (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds.
Hit: RH. Wide base, hands set high, bat rests on shoulder. Crouches into deep load back, short stride even. Long, steep bat path to contact.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.34-2.54 pop times. Footwork is quick; clean exchanges.
Run: 8.24 runner in the 60. 

Camden Hoier, West Bend East (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, hands set high. Loads back into leg lift stride. Bat path is loose, level, producing middle-of-the-field line-drives.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.38-2.46 pop times. Simple, fundamental actions; direct to target.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Jake Olszewski, Germantown (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds. Lean build.
Hit: LH. Wide/balanced base, hands set high. Rocks back into load, short simple stride. Long bat path with barrel feel.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Favors the opposite way but also topped 300 feet once in batting practice, per TrackMan, at a ball hit just over 90 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Gets the most out of arm strength throws a true ball on target.
Defense: 2.12-2.24 pop times. Quick, efficient actions out of the crouch. Fluid feet, quick exchanges.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Patzfahl, Greendale (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds.
Hit: RH. Extra-wide base, hands set high, front foot slightly open. Hands load down with bar, strides to even, front foot opens. Bat path is long, mostly level, with some barrel feel. Approach is consistently pull-side first.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 61 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.38-2.45 pop times. Direct footwork to target, can get a little tall at reception.
Run: 8.17 runner in the 60. 

Adam Suess, Madison East (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-3, 105-pounds.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup in a slight wrap, even feet. Weight-shift load back with leg hang, long stride, open foot landing. Long bat path off a level plane.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. Short throws from an over-the-top slot; some wind-up in load.
Defense: 2.41-2.52 pop times. Feet are in control, toward target.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60.

Hunter Szymborski, Brookfield Central (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 163-pounds. Lean build; strength in lower half.
Hit: LH. Wide base, hands set high. Subtle load back with abbreviated leg lift, soft landing. Steep path to contact, well-timed contact that finds the middle of the field regularly.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 slot. Throws consistently were on target.
Defense: 2.18-2.29 pop times. Repeats actions well, deliberately. Efficient, fundamental exchange through release.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Seth Thomas, Wauwatosa West (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-2, 155-pounds. Thin, lean build; room to add strength.
Hit: RH. Balanced/athletic setup, wide base. Pre-pitch rhythm. Loads back and down on back foot, arm slightly bars in load. Bat path is long and level; demonstrated barrel feel in line-drive approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short throws from an over-the-top slot. Shows accuracy to the bag.
Defense: 2.28-2.40 pop times. Mobility and athleticism in reception and on block. Moves well in taller stature.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60. Athletic gait; long strides.

Tanner White, Tremper (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 167-pounds.
Hit: RH. Balanced/tall setup, slightly open, hands set high. Minimal load and stride. Short and level bat path with two-hand extension in finish.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 61 mph. INF - 69 mph. Short arm action from high 3/4 slot from behind the plate. Longer arm action, more loose, on the infield.
Defense: 2.32-2.45 pop times. Footwork is deliberate and fluid; projects better on the corner of the infield.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

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